Man did not sign a consent form before arriving on earth. He did not negotiate the climate of his birth, the economy of his century, the religion of his parents, or the fragility of his bones. He simply appeared . As Jean-Paul Sartre would say, he finds himself “thrown” into existence—condemned to be free, yet not consulted about being. This is the primordial confusion: existence precedes permission. On the surface of the earth, life appears ordinary. Some find it sweet; others taste only bitterness; many sip from a strange cocktail of sweet-bitter paradox. But beneath this ordinary surface lurks a metaphysical tension: Can any human creature truly choose the state he desires – peaceful, eudemonic, triumphant – without interference from forces beyond his control? Is man truly sovereign over his condition? Or is he but a fragile reed bent by invisible winds? The Illusion of Measure Long before existentialism, Protagoras declared, “Man is the measure of all things: of the thing...
THE TYRANNY OF GODFATHERS: HOW WIKE’S ALLEGED GRIP ON RIVERS’ TREASURY EXPOSES NIGERIA’S CORRUPT POLITICAL SYSTEM
The political landscape of Rivers State has been embroiled in controversy, with allegations surfacing that former Governor Nyesom Wike demanded substantial financial kickbacks from his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. These claims have ignited debates about the pervasive influence of political godfathers in Nigeria, and the societal attitudes that enable such corruption to persist. Allegations of Financial Demands Reports indicate that Wike insisted on receiving a significant portion of the State's monthly allocation. Specifically, he allegedly demanded 25% of all State allocations, a sum that would severely constrain the State's developmental initiatives. Additionally, Wike purportedly sought ₦ 2 billion from the ₦ 5 billion palliative funds intended to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal. These assertions were highlighted by activist and lawyer Chetam Thierry Nwala, who emphasized the detrimental impact such demands could have on the State's prog...